Herb Plants

Always check with your physician before using any herbs medicinally. Abundant Acres does not recommend any herbs for medical use. Always research thoroughly before ingesting any herb for medicinal use.

Amaranth,  Hopi Red Dye   $3.00
(Amaranthus cruentus) "Crunentus" means " bloodstained" and these 4 foot tall plants have really red seedheads, used traditionally by Southwestern Native Americans to obtain red dye for their textiles. The leaves are generously splashed with red as well, making them spectacular at the back-of-border or in the center of the bed.  Seeds may be harvested and used as grain when mature. Leaves make good greens, especially at midsummer, and are usually preferred harvested as very young leaves, steamed or stir-fried. A plant of ancient uses that is well-suited to today's multi-tasking gardens. gardens.

Ashwagandha   $3.00 Sold out
(Withania somnifera)  Legendary Ayurvedic herb originating in India. "Somnifera" means literally "sleep bearer" and Ashwagandha has been renowned as a medicinal herb for centuries: as a sleep aid, and as an all-around tonic on the order of ginseng, as well as to treat post-partum ailments and a host of others. Plants may reach to nearly 5 feet in height in their native land, where they flower almost year-round. Stems and branches are covered in a fine down, and bear leaves to 4 inches in length. Small green to yellow flowers appear in clusters, then give way to quarter-inch round red fruits, borne in an inflated calyx reminiscent of a miniature tomatillo. It is the roots that carry the reputed medicinal effect. Expect to harvest roots the following spring after overwintering in very mild conditions. For a fascinating study, see http://www.herbalnet.org/SHRUBS/withania_somni.asp

  

Basil, Cinnamon  $3.00
A medium-sized culinary basil, with some purple coloration, though not showy. Cinnamon doesn't really describe it in our opinion--perhaps clove-or anise-like, or maybe it just tastes like itself. In any case, it's indispensible in Mexican dishes, being from that country. A fine, unusual addition to fresh salsas.

Basil, Dark Purple (Opal)  $3.00
A uniform, rich Roman purple on fairly large plants. Very attractive and grown as much for its appearance as for culinary use; flavor only so-so, but definitely basil and can certainly be used as such.

Basil, Fine Verde    $3.00
Culinary. Compact plants, delicate little leaves, big on real Italian basil flavor. Good in pots, and a good choice for overwintering on your window sill!

Basil, Genovese  $3.00
Culinary. Another traditonal Italian variety, so you can be sure it tastes like it should!  Large plants, large leaves, easily grown to perfection. A good all-around choice, and the standard by which we judge other European basil flavor.

Basil, Greek Dwarf  $3.00
Very small, shrubby plants to about 12 inches tall, work very well in pots, which is how they're often grown in Greece. Good, rich culinary variety, excellent for overwintering indoors. (Since these plants are quite dwarf, the seedlings we ship will be proportionately smaller as well.)

Basil, Lettuce Leaf  $3.00
Culinary. The leaves are 3-5 inches in length and very wide--you could stuff them with your favorite doulmada stuffing! True basil taste and aroma. Originated in Japan.

Basil, Lime  $3.00  
Culinary. It's basil, all right, but with an aromatic suggestion of limes. Use it with abandon in Thai dishes, since it originated in Thailand. Recommended.

Basil, Siam Queen  $3.00
Another Thai culinary variety. To us it has the classic Thai basil taste, reminiscent of cloves in some way. Plant has elongated, relatively narrow green leaves. Use along with some hot chilis, coconut milk, and lemon grass, and you're well on your way to an authentic Thai meal. Large plants.

Basil, Spicy Globe  $3.00 New
A wonderful dwarf type that we were accidentally intoduced to in 2007. This culinary variety reaches about a foot tall for us, with small leaves and compact form which make it ideal for pot culture or the front of a border or bed. The flavor and aroma are intense, pure basil with a heady vanilla overtone. We grow numerous basils in our own garden every year, but this is one that we choose never to be without.

Basil, Thai Sweet Small-Leaf  $3.00  Sold Out
Culinary. These were far and away the most vigorous seedlings of the 2007 basil planting. The scent is in our opinion more like the European basils, without the clove- or anise-like scent typical of the Thai-style culinary basils. Seed courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company, Mansfield, Missouri. Vigorous, sizeable plants (to 2 1/2 feet).

Borage  New $3.00
(Borago officinalis) Venerable annual heb which originated in the Middle East but has been grown in European cottage garden for many centuries. Sky-blue starlike flowers, perched atop wooly stems, are the parts most frequently used. The plant reaches two to three feet in height and a bit less in breadth, and when clothed in blossoms cuts quite a figure in the garden. In addition to reputed medicinal uses, the flowers are used fresh as a garnish for salads, where their mild cucumber-like flavor is appreciated. Or, for a charming old-fashioned touch, the fresh blossoms are dipped in beaten egg white, gently dredged in granulated sugar, and air-dried to make an enchanting decoration for cakes and desserts, a delightful if not strictly necessary culinary value. This plant self-sows amiably where contented in the garden. Once grown the garden need never lack for this charming plant, nor should it.

Goji Berry (Chinese Wolfberry )  $4.00
(Lycium barbarum) Perennial shrubs to 9 feet tall, but usually much shorter, and bearing fruit from their second year on. Plants have naturalized in England, having been grown there since the Eighteenth Century, and known there as Duke of Argyll's Tea Tree. Goji plants appear tolerant of a wide range of soils, so long as these are well drained, preferring full sun for best production, and are somewhat drought-tolerant once established. The plant is said to tolerate temperatures down to -15 degrees F., which should mean they are hardy to Zone 5. Small lavender flowers appear in June through September, yielding sweet, juicy, small scarlet berries, which look not unlike small wild peppers, a month or two later. The wrinkly dried berries are often marketed as "Tibetan goji berry," which appears to be a misnomer since there is no history of commercial cultivation in the Land of Snows. Most commercial cultivation has been in China, where the fruits are esteemed as a medicinal for reputed health benefits, and now their use is becoming popular in the West as well. The berries and their juice have been touted for their vitamin C and anti-oxidant content, anti-cancer and many other qualities, most of which have not been evaluated by the FDA.

Clary Sage  $4.00  (Not shipped to WA, where it may be considered a noxious weed) Sold out
(Salvia sclarea) Has naturalized in the Pacific Northwest; from Utah to Missouri, and  in the Great Lakes area. Where natural conditions favor it less, it is a non-invasive, widely enjoyed garden plant. The shrubby biennial plant may reach 4-5 feet height in our experience. Large and showy flower clusters in white or pale lavender to mauve or pink. Persistent bracts carry sometimes quite vivid color of their own for a very long season. (Most flower stalks should probably be removed before seed matures to be cautious and avoid unwanted spread beyond the garden, even where not such an agressive plant.) A plant that should not be grown where it is known to be invasive. And yet another legitimate plant for the traditional herb garden, originating in Eurasia, and a useful addition to the herb garden that has been enjoyed safely throughout most of the country. We find its unusual but somehow still sage-like aroma enchanting in its way. A traditional use was in flavoring muscatel, and also as a medicinal eye-wash. A member of the traditional pharmacopeia in many traditions.

Echinacea, Narrow Leaf  $4.00
(Echinacea angustifolia) Several Echinacea species are regarded as possessing powerful medicinal, immune-stimulating compounds, but E. angustifolia is reputed to be the strongest. This plant originated in and around the Great Plains from Texas into Canada. The species is considered endangered in Missouri, and our stock comes from imported seed or cultivated local plantings. Perennial herb reaching occasionally to 2 1/2 feet tall, and in its native environment frequently grows alongside small grasses and into oak woods. Needs half to full sunshine, adequate water. Blooms for about a month from late June to mid-July. Flowers are attractive but not especially showy,  highly recurved purple daisies with very prominent brown centers. .

Feverfew    $3.50
A shrubby perennial herb to 4 feet in height, studded with hundreds of one-inch, white daisies. Dies back to the ground in winter. Reputed remedy for migraines and arthritis; we can attest to its medicinal utility for the latter. Very ornamental in the back of an herb bed or border.

 

Horehound, White   $3.00 Sold out
(Marrubium vulgare) This perennial herbaceous plant which has become naturalized thoughout the US is originally from Europe and is indigenous to Britain, where is fourishes by roadsides. The Romans prized it for its medical properties in easing sore throats and coughs, and there are some who feel that it was one of the bitter herbs used by the Hebrews for the Feast of Passover. It prefers growing in dry, poor soil and grows to a foot or more high. The leaves are wrinkled and covered with white felted hairs, and white flowers, hence the name.

  


Lemon Balm  $3.50
(Melissa officinalis) Bright green very scalloped leaves add a true lemon flavor to drinks, desserts and more. The plant is a hardy perennial at least to Zone 5. Often self-sows, but seldom gets out of bounds.

Lion's Tail or Wild Dagga   $3.50 
(Leonotis leonurus)  Native to South Africa, this member of the mint family is used as a folk medicinal among the native peoples as a purgative and vermifuge and for numerous ailments.  The evergreen plant grows tall and produces lovely orange flowers. Caution: This plant can produce a mild narcotic effect.

Mexican Mint or Sweet Mace  $3.00  New
(Tagetes lucida)  Sweet-smelling member of the Marigold clan, that has enjoyed a variety of uses for centuries, but in cooking mainly as an admirable true-tarragon substitute, as its other  common names attest: Spanish, Texas, or Mexican Tarragon.  The plant eventually forms a small shrub, hardy in Zone 8 and warmer climates, but leaves are harvested at any stage of growth.  The foliage, preferably used fresh, do have a similar taste to the true tarragon, with an added hint of licorice or anise, but are sweeter and not peppery, and can be utilized even in deserts! Cheerful, single daisies, may appear on the plant where the season is sufficiently long. Preliminary studies indicate possible anti-bacterial qualities as well.

Mint, Apple $3.00
(Mentha suaveolens) Very wooly large leaves on upright stems. Not as agressive as common mints, but does spread by underground runners. Minty, but with a sharp, clean hint of tart green apples. Useful in borders, a delight as a tea.

Mint, Chocolate $3.00
(Mentha piperita) Ornamental Low-growing in our garden. Unmistakable scent of chocolate.  Tolerates foot traffic.

Mint, Orange  $3.00  Sorry not available
(Mentha piperita citrata) Really has a clear frangrance of oranges, yet maintains its identity as a mint, all the while. Hardy perennial in Zones 4-11. Agressive like many mints, and best kept confined in a container, behind a wall, raised planter, etc. Renowned for its utility in tea, either hot or cold.

 

Mint, Pineapple  $3.00
(Mentha suaveolens variegata) A typical mint in appearance, small leaves and sprawling.  Reminiscent of scented geranium, to our noses.

Oregano, True Greek   $3.00 Sorry, not available
(Origanum heracleotum) There has been much dispute among horticulturists regarding which is the "true" culinary oregano, but we've cast our vote for this one.

Parsley, Giant of Italy    $3.00  sold out
(Petroselinum crispim) Large, flat leaved culinary herb. Slow to make a start, maybe, but develops into a robust plant that thrives on cutting. Held its foliage well into December in our garden, and started again when the weather mellowed in early March. Will self-sow if you let it, and make its cheerful presence felt for years to come. How can anything smell so pungent, while smelling so light and fresh? Remarkable! If you're accustomed to insipid store-bought parsley (as we were) this one will make a parsley convert of you (as we now are!).

Valerian  $3.50
(Valeriana officinalis) Classic medicinal herb traditionally used in Europe as a natural sleep aid. The second year roots are usually the source of its reputed herbal efficacy. If the roots are not all harvested, becomes an attractive perennial reaching five feet in height. Blooms in June-September, and bearing small flowers of pink, lavender or white. Flowers should be kept picked off for best root production. Has naturalized in the Northeast. Cats are attracted to the rather unappealing smell of the foliage and their reactions to it are comical.

  

Vietnamese Cilantro  $3.50  Sold Out
(Polygonum odoratum) Tender culinary perennial from tropical Southeast Asia. Looks and grows like a mint, although it's a member of the Knotweed Family. The leaves are traditional in Vietnamese cooking as a cilantro substitute. To us it does taste virtually the same, except it's never overpowering like  true cilantro can be--a benefit if you're just wanting a light hint of cilantro in your Vietnamese- or Thai-style cooking! Overwinter in the windowsill for a useful, attractive pot plant that can live for years.

White Sage $3.50 Sold out
(Salvia alpina) One of the most aromatic of the native Salvias (Sages), posessing both culinary and medicinal value. Was respected and utilized in Native American traditions. Use the stems as skewers or toss sprigs into the coals to elicit a unique flavor for barbeque. Is frequently mentioned as a medicinal herb with some homeopathic potential.

 

Zaatar $3.50  Late May ship dates only
(Origanum syriaca) Unique Middle Eastern herb that is seldom available outside of specialty  stores in the larger cities.  Absolutely indispensible culinary herb for truly authentic Middle Eastern cuisine. The plant is a distinctive blend of oregano, marjoram and thyme. This plant is one of several referred to collectively as "za'atar."  Plant grows to 3 feet and is covered with flower spikes which are used as well as the leaves for seasoning. Grows best in full sun, and prefers a dry, very well drained poor to moderately fertile soil.  A tender perennial in zones 8 - 10.  An annual or container plant in all other zones.  As described in the 2008 Summer Heirloom Gardener Magazine. A good choice for pot culture.